Phenological mismatch results when interacting species change the timing of regularly repeated phases in their life cycles at different rates. We review whether this continuously ongoing phenomenon, also known as trophic asynchrony, is becoming more common under ongoing rapid climate change.

What is phenological mismatch example?

For example, phenological mismatches might occur when organisms that typically interact, such as predator and prey or plant and pollinator, are no longer active at the same time. Or, in contrast, shifts in phenology could alleviate existing mismatches and promote the exploitation of newly available resources.

What causes phenological mismatch?

Phenological mismatch between interacting species may occur when the species use different environmental cues as a determinant of phenological events or when responsiveness to a specific cue is different between species [5,29].